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On This Day in Football: Real Madrid get off the mark

On this day in 1905, Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey to win their first major honour.

Known back then as the Copa de Su Majestad El Rey Alfonso XIII or His Majesty King Alfonso XIII’s Cup, it was an invitational tournament in its initial editions with only three clubs competing in the 1904-05 season – Real Madrid, San Sebastian and Athletic Bilbao.

Each team had to play the other two in one-off games in a league structure. Whichever team finished at the top got the trophy.